France blew the tournament wide open by beating favourites and reigning champions the US in the quarter-finals, but they never got going as star centre Rudy Gobert struggled and shots from beyond the arc would not drop for them.

Frank Ntilikina top-scored for the French with 16 points and Louis Labeyrie added eight off the bench, but all too often they left open lanes to the basket for the aggressive Argentinian attack to exploit.

Scola made the most of their defensive lapses, scoring several easy lay-ups, hitting three of four three-pointers and making nine of 10 free throws in a dominant offensive performance to lead his team to their first final appearance since 2002.

Showing no signs of fatigue, the 39-year-old played 34 of the 40 minutes and saved his best for the very end.

"Luis told us before every game, including today, that we can win - that we are a tough, tough team to beat," Argentina center Tayavek Gallizzi said.

"Just focus on our game. It's incredible. At his age he is playing better than all the younger guys."

The result means it will now be the first gold-medal game for Argentina since the 2004 Olympics.

Argentina - a team with no active NBA players on their roster - will be bidding for their second title, after winning the inaugural world championship in 1950.

Australian Associated Press